Catching post and projectile

ABSTRACT

HIGHEST SCORE, EACH OF THE PROJECTING UNITS HAVING A SERIES OF UPSTANDING FINGERS EACH ONE OF WHICH IS INDIVIDUALLY SCORED AND AROUND WHICH THE BALL UNIT IS INTENDED TO BE CAUGHT.   A COMPETITIVE SKILL GAME WHICH MAY BE PLAYED BY SEVERAL PLAYERS AND WHEREIN EACH PLAYER HOLDS A PROJECTING UNIT IN HIS HAND, THE PROJECTING UNIT BEING ADAPTABLE FOR THROWING A BALL UNIT TO ANOTHER PLAYER WHO LIKEWISE HOLDS A PROJECTING UNIT AND UPON WHICH THE PLAYER ATTEMPTS TO CATCH THE BALL UNIT IN SUCH POSITION THAT IT WILL ATTAIN A

1765- 1973 J. L. BOWERS CATCHING POST AND PROJECTILE Filed Feb. 10, 1971 INVENTOR. JEFFREY L BOWE/IS United States Patent 3,717,348 CATCHING POST AND PROJECTILE Jeffrey L. Bowers, 1023 North Broadway E., Columbus, Ohio 43224 Filed Feb. 10, 1971, Ser. No. 114,224 Int. Cl. A63b 71/02 U.S. Cl. 273-96 R 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A competitive skill game which may be played by several players and wherein each player holds a projecting unit in his hand, the projecting unit being adaptable for throwing a ball unit to another player who likewise holds a projecting unit and upon which the player attempts to catch the ball unit in such position that it will attain a highest score, each of the projecting units having a series of upstanding fingers each one of which is individually scored and around which the ball unit is intended to be caught.

This invention relates generally to competitive games. Still more specifically the present invention relates to a skill game.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel finger ball game wherein several players are each provided with a projecting unit and from which a ball unit is thrown toward another player who is likewise equipped with a similar projecting unit and upon which the ball unit is intended to be caught in such position that it will attain a desirable high score.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a finger ball game which can be played by two or more players.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a finger ball game which can be played indoors as well as out-of-doors.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a finger ball game wherein a catching skill can be attained and improved by practice in playing the present game.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a finger ball game which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the ball unit held upon the projecting unit; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ball unit shown independently.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a finger ball game, according to the present invention, wherein there is a projecting unit 11 and a ball unit 12.

The projecting unit 11 serves likewise as a goal unit alternately during the progress of a game. The projecting unit 11 includes an elongated handle 13 which at one end is secured under the longitudinal center of a flat bar 14. Upon the upper side of the bar 14 there are mounted a ice plurality of four upstanding fingers 15, the outermost thereof being longer than the center of the fingers. The fingers are spaced apart from each other, the space between the fingers being approximately equal to the diameter of the fingers themselves.

As is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, each of the fingers are imprinted with a numeral 16 on a side thereof, the numeral 16 defining a scoring point value. Accordingly, the longer outermost fingers have a scoring value of 10 points whereas the shorter and inner fingers have a scoring value of 15 points. It is to be noted that the spaces 17 between the fingers are likewise scored by a numeral 18 which is imprinted upon the upper side of the bar 14, this scoring value comprising five points as indicated. Accordingly, in the illustration at FIG. 1, there is shown a ball unit 12a which is fitted around the upstanding end finger so that such a position would give a 10 point scoring value. Likewise the ball unit 1211 caught only around the bar 14 has attained a scoring value of only five points.

For an attractive appearance, the outermost fingers may be provided with a different color than the color of the innermost fingers 15 depending on the judgment of the manufacturer.

The ball unit 12, shown per se in FIG. 2 is indicated to be comprised of a pair of rubber balls 19 which are permanently attached to opposite ends of an elastic 20. The elastic 20 at its center is provided with an extending tab 21 and which is adaptable for being held in a persons hand. The balls 19 may likewise be attractively colored so to appear to players.

In playing the game, one player throws the ball unit 12 by means of the projecting unit 11 toward another player who attempts to catch the ball unit upon his own projecting unit 11 in such a manner so that it will attain a highest score. Accordingly, in a most desireable catch, the ball unit will be caught with the elastic 20 being hooked around one of the center fingers 15 so as to gain a scoring value of 15 points. Lesser scoring points can be obtained if the ball unit is caught upon the endmost finger or only around the bar 14 such as is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

In playing the game, the person attaining the highest score is the winner. The game can be played until a certain predetermined score is obtained by one of the players or else the game is limited to a number of tosses of the ball unit so to determine how many points each of the players has attained.

Thus there is provided a finger ball game which is fascinating, develops skill and which is a pleasant exercise.

What I now claim is:

1. In a finger ball game, the combination of a projecting unit and a ball unit; said projecting unit being adapted to be held in the hand of one player for catching a ball unit thrown by another player in such a position thereon as to obtain a highest scoring point value, and comprising an elongated flat bar which at its center is secured upon its underside to one end of an elongated handle, said bar having an upper side to which is secured a plurality of upstanding, equidistantly spaced apart relatively parallel inner and outer fingers having diameters approximately equal to the space between adjacent fingers, the outer fingers being relatively longer and having a lower score point value than the inner fingers; said ball unit comprising a pair of rubber balls secured, respectively to the opposite 2,797,924

ends of an elongated piece of elastic material, said piece of 3,095,367

elastic material being provided at its central region with an extending tab for being held in a persons hand. 5 573 0 7 425,635

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,049,352 3/1962 Hancock 27396 R 10 1,963,944 6/1934 Hahn 273-98 1,578,892 3/1926 Holman 273-97 R 4 7/1957 Stewart 273106 R 7/1963 Kiyuna 273l06 R FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1959 Canada. 6/ 1911 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner M. SISKIND, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

